The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-17
Saved by a Snowman.

The Oak Hill school-house stood at
the foot OF beautiful slope, crowned
with great, spreading oaks, whose rich.
dark green was here and there varied
by the darker green of an occasional
towering pine.
The school-house itself was small,
wealher-bcaten affair, almose hidden by
the great trees that twined their "hun-
dred strong arms" about and above it,
shielding it alike from summer suns and
winter winds.
Some teacher, or pupil, years back,
with perhaps the California big trees"
in mind. had named some of the larger
ones.
One was the "Giant," one that
stood almost over the entrance was
the "Watchman," another was the
"Indan Chief" and among the other
large ones. named for some peculiarly
of appearance, were sold Deadwood,"
"Topknot." King of the oaks, and
various others.
1t was ''iust the place for school
house." so said the trustees, forty years
ago. and so thought each succeeding
generation of boys and girls, who play
ed in the cool grove in summer. or en-
loved the splendid coastlng on the hill
in the winter.
The slide began n few rods away
from the school-house, where the hill
sloped lust enough for grand start,
tnen away across The play ground,
swift and fast across the road, swfter
yet through the fence, where tle rails
were let down. and far down into
Farmer Green's pasture"
Surely no modern toboggan ever fur
nshed more enjoyment than did the
rude sleds that carried the coax Hilr'
boys and girls.
One would have supposed that moth
ing could ever disturb that retired
school playground; but \ railroad
company, who wanted n short cut for
branch road. sent their surveyors that
way. of course, they must lay their
route Just back of the school-house, at
the foot of the hill, right across the
summer play ground at the right, and
right across. the winter coasting- ground
at the left.
At first there was n great deal of talk
about moving the sehool-house, and
the "Deestrict" held meetings, and
d scussed the matter, and it was finally
decided that a new school-house was
needed; but estimates had to be made,
and great deal of talking done. and
meanwhile spring work came on. and
the spring school began, and the rail-
rord work went swiftly forward.
The slow. sleepy people Of the dis
trict went the round of spring work.
summer work and fall work. and be-
fore they knew II, another winter . me
aud went. another spring had come,
the branch road was completed and
running, and the old school-house still
did duty.
All were busy, the children were
careful, and the question of a new
shool-house was for q time entirely
dropped.
The novelty OF the railroad helped
the children TO forget the trespass on
their summer playground. but, by the
time winter came, they had worn oil.
and they missed their old coasting-
ground very much.
They had to content themselves with
snow-forts and sham-battles, which
often brought Il ing glimpse Of pleas
ure 10 the faces looking from the win
dows of the passing trains.
One noon. after dinner was dispatch
ed a group of boys stood watching a
long, heavy fire ght train, as 1t moved
over the road and the older ones were
talk ny of the good times they used to
have on the slide, before the railroad
came, and wondering what they could
do for some fun.
ii know" said ALI Hartley. Lets
make a snowman. We haven't had
one this winter"
IAN right!'' cried Tom Barton. "And
| let us bu Id it right up by the track
there's lots of snow there-and let's
make him good and strong. so that he
: won't tip over in the first wind that
comes along"
''rll tell you. boys. let's get long.
forked branch for legs. and build the
snow around Il. and that will make him
, strong" said Bob Merritt
SO TO work they went with will. the
. big BOYS building. the small ones roll
, ling up the great. soft balls OF snow for
: llhe others 10 work with.
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